Reel feed mechanism for feeding and rotating sewer cleaning tool drive rod



C. J. PRANGE HANISM FOR FEEDING AND ROTAT ,071,794 ING Jan. 8, 1963 REEL FEED MEC SEWER CLEANING TOOL DRIVE ROD Filed Aug. 30, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY 3,071,794 ATING Jan. 8, 1963 c. J. PRANGE REEL FEED MECHANISM FOR FEEDING AND ROT SEWER CLEANING TOOL DRIVE ROD 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1960 Jan. 8, 1963 C PRANGE 3,071,794

REEL FEED MECHANISM FOR FEEDING AND ROTATING SEWER CLEANING TOOL DRIVE ROD. Filed Aug. 30, 1960 [HARLE3 rj PEA/V65 AT'foRNEY INVENTOR Jan. 8, 1963 c. J. PRANGE 3,071,794

REEL FEED MECHANISM FOR FEEDING AND ROTATING SEWER CLEANING TOOL DRIVE ROD 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 30, 1960 INVENT OR 0mm. 5.5 J PRANGE ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofitice 3,071,794 Pltite ed Jan. 8, 19 3 $371,7 3. 3, REEL'FEED MECHANISM F91; FEEDING AND Rt)- AI N SEW i L ANING TF DR VE D Charles]; Prange,'Lima,-flhid, assignor' t'o Flexible Sewertool Corporation, Lima, Oliio,a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 30, 1960;Ser. No. 52,968 19 Claims. (Cl. 1'5?-'104.3)'

This inventionrelates to the feeding and rotating of a sewer cleaning drive rod such as isusecl in operating a rotatable sewer cleaning tool, and has as' its general o bje ct to provid e an improved drive rod handling apparatus including a reel for storing; the drive rod and mechanism forgunreeling the rod, rotating-it and feeding it forwardly, and retracting it back into the reel.

In the past, it has been the practice to utilize a jointed rod for driving sewer cleaning tools -one in which sec? tions of rod of limited length were coupled together by threading one end of a drive rod section into an internally threaded-socket integral with the other end of an adjoining section; The joints between the rods were utilized not only for coupling the sections: together but also for positive, meshing engagement with drive means moving along the axis of feed of the'drive rod from'the reel, for positively movingthe rod out of the reel and retracting it into the reel. Such drive rods were expensive because ofthe many couplings utilized in joining the sections together', and the feedingapparatus was fairly complicated, bulky'and cumbersome. One of the objects of the present invention is'to provide animprovedsewer' cleaning tool driving apparatus utilizing a continuous drive rod of uni form cross section without joints, and an improved reel type feed mechanism for reeling, unreelin'g,'rotating,forward feeding and retracting such uniform unjointed drive rod with a positive feed.

More specifically, the invention contemplates an apparatus for positively projectin'gand retracting a smooth surface, uniform scction drive" rod without the necessity for indenting the surface thereof with gripping jaws and, consequently, avoiding anymarrin'g of the drive rod surface which would tend to developdeterioration and failure in the drive rod.

Broadly, the invention contemplates'such an apparatus including; in general, 'a"reelfor storing the drive rod; and a'f'eed unit, operating in immediateassociation with the reel, for feeding the rod out of the reel a'nd retracting into the reel, projectionand retraction of the rod both being' elfected by ditferentiallvrotating thereel and feed units; More specifically,the invention provides an apparatus wherein positive' projection and retraction ofthe drive rod is imparted to it by the reel when rotating differentially with respect to a feed unit, the driverod being projected when the feed unit rotates ahead of the reel and being retracted Whenthe feed unitlrotates behindf thereel;

A further object fis to provide in such an apparatngan arrangement wherein the drive'rod, as it is being retracted into the reel, is pulled radially inwardly so as to be tightly wound previously wound coils of rod in the reel, wh ereas during projection of the driverod,:the forces acting thereon by the differentially rotating reel and feed unit will cause it to move radially outwardly so as to become disengaged from the rod that is coiled upon the reel, thereby avoidingtangling of the successive turns of the drive rod within the reel.

A further object is to provide, in such an apparatus, a feed unit of generally conical form, including an axle shaft, and a backring which isadjustably mo'uritedon said shaft for rotation in adjustableproirimityto an open side of the reel saddle, for closing said open side and con fining 'the coils of "drive rod therein, said back ring being 2t removable to accommodate. servicing and assembly of the feed unit with respect to the reel unit.

A further object is to provide. a drive rod feed apparatus which isselectively operable: a) to effect projection and retraction of the drive rod, without rotation thereof; (b) to selectively eifect at variable sped, rotation of the drive rod while either projecting or retracting, it; and (c) to' sea lectively efifiect rotation of the drive rod without longi-t tudinalmovement. More'specifically, in this regard, the feed apparatus embodies drive transmission and control apparatus such that by holding the feedunit against rota-v tion, While driving the reel in one direction, the drive rod will be projected without being rotated; by holding the feed unit against rotation while rotating the reel in they opposite direction, the drive rod will be retracted without being rotated; by turning both units forwardly with the feed unit rotating ahead of the reel unit, the drive rod will be projected and rotated; by turning both these units forwardly with the reel unit turning ahead of the feed unit, the drive rod will be retracted and simultaneously rotated; andby turning both units forwardly at the same speed, the drive rod will be rotated without longitudinal movement Thus both projection and retraction are accomplished by selective directional rotation of the reel unit with respect to the feed unit, withthe feedunit turning when it is. desired to rotated-1e drive rod, and with the feed unit held stationary when it is desired to effect projection or retraction vwfthoutrotation, ,as may be, called for by the conditions encountered inthe operation.

Qther objects and advantages will become apparent in the ensuing specifications and appended drawings in which: r

FIG, 1 is aside view of a reel feed apparatus embodying my invention; 7

FIG. 1a is a fragmentary sectional view through adjacent portions of the feed unit and reel unit at the point where the drive rod is guided through the flange of'the feed unit andinto the reel, space of theroeelunit;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View in a horizontal plane, looking downwardly; j

FIG.'2a is a schematic diagram of the transmission mechanism;

FIG.v 2b isa fragmentary axial sectional view of a portion of the same; a

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary radial sectional view of a portion of the same; t 4

FIG. 3 is a side view of the reel unit;

FIG. 4'is. a sectional view thereof taken on'the line 4.4 of FIG. 3; V l

FIG. 5' is a fragmentary detail sectional view of the storage area of the reel;

FIG. 6 is, a transversesectio'nal view taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 7--7Iof FIG. 1; V A

FIG. 8 is a side view of the feed unit;

FIGL' 9tis a'front end view of the'feed unit;

FIG. 10 is a detail sectional viewof the forward end.

portionof'the feed unit, taken on the line 10 -10of FIG. 8; and r FIG. 11 is a detail sectional view'taken on li'ne'11-11 0f FIG; 9. I

and change speed transmission mechanism F, for transmitting variable-speed drive to the feed unit C.

Detailed Description Chassis A.The chassis A (FIGS. 1 and 2) comprises a horizontal bed frame the rearward portion of which is supported upon wheels 16 and the forward portion of which has a downwardly projecting pillar 17 supported, through a swivel joint 18, upon a pair of steerable wheels 19 having a draw bar 20 for towing the apparatus behind a tractor vehicle. The chassis further includes respective forward, intermediate and rear A-frames 21, 21' and 22 respectively, having at their upper ends, respective sleeve bearings 23, 23' and 24. In the forward end of the chassis A is a seat 25 for the variable speed transmission forming part of drive unit F. The seat 25 and the A-frames are erected upon a bed plate 26 which is attached to the upper sides of the respective laterally spaced beams of the bed frame 15, bridging between these beams and bracing the bed frame structure. Referring to FIG. 2, the frame bed 15 includes a relatively narrow rectangular forward portion 15, coextensive in area with the bed plate 26, and covered thereby, and an open rear portion 15 of fish-tail form, of suflicient span to receive the lower portion of reel unit B which projects downwardly therethrough as indicated in FIG. 1.

Reel unit B.--Reel unit B (FIGS. 3-5) comprises a reel shaft 30 having an open forward end portion journalled in bearing 23, an intermediate portion journalled in bearing 23' and a rear end portion journalled in bearing 24. The shaft 36 is tubular to receive and guide the drive rod for projection from its forward end, which is open. Reel unit B further includes a conical reel cage fabricated largely of metal rod parts consisting in separable forward and rear sections. The rear section comprises a plurality of radial spokes 31 attached, as by welding, to a rear hub 32, respective periphery bars 33 integral with and bent forwardly from respective spokes 31, parallel to the operational axis (of shaft 30) and terminating in respective forwardly and inwardly inclined tangs 34. Brace rods 35, aligned with tangs 34, are coupled to them by respective threaded separable couplings 36. The forward end of each brace rod 35 is bent forwardly, at 37, parallel to the operational axis and is secured, as by welding, to the inner wall of a cylindrical skirt 38 of a forward hub 39. Hubs 32 and 39 are mounted for free rotation upon shaft 30 and are axially positioned between bearings 23, 24. Hub 39 has a radial flange portion projecting past the forward end of skirt 38 and terminating in teeth constituting a sprocket 40 through which the reel is driven.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a plurality of saddle bars 41 are secured, as by welding, to the forward sides of the respective spokes 31 and project diagonally forwardly and outwardly. Wound upon the saddle bars 41 is a drive rod 42. From its inward turns toward andunreeling turn 42' which leaves the reel B to enter feed unit C, the drive rod 42 encircles the reel B in a clockwise direction when looking from the tool end toward the reel B as in FIG. 9. Secured to the inward sides of periphery rods 33 and projecting radially inwardly opposite the forward tips 43 of saddle bars 41 are a plurality of triangular guide fingers 44 each of which has a forwardly and inwardly inclined rear margin 45. Margins 45 function as camming surfaces to guide an unreeling turn 42 of the drive rod 42 through a pass 46 which is defined between the inward tips of fingers 44 and the tips 43 of saddle bars 41. Thus the drive rod may emerge from an annular reel saddle 47 which is defined by the outer extremities of spokes 31, the saddle bars 41, the periphery bars 33 and the fingers 44, upon which the successive turns of a cleaning tool drive rod 42 are reeled.

Brace rods 35 are secured in diverging conical assembly by circumferential hoops 48 and 49 welded thereto, the hoop 49 being disposed adjacent the separable couplings 36 and the hoop 48 being disposed relatively near the hub 39. It will now be apparent for original assembly and repair servicing purposes, the back spider and saddle section of reel unit B can be detached from the conical front brace rod section by opening the couplings 36 and bodily separating the two sections of the reel unit from one another.

Feed unit C.The feed unit C (FIGS. 8-11) is mounted on and driven by shaft 30. It comprises a guard ring 50 of angle iron including a flat radial flange 51 and a cylindrical forward flange 52; and a plurality of radial spokes 53, the outer ends of which are secured, as by welding, to the rear face of radial flange 51 and the inner ends of which are suitably secured to a hub 54 mounted on and secured to shaft 30. The guard ring 50 is braced by a plurality of sectional rod braces 55 each including a forward section 56 having a forward end secured, as by welding, to the periphery of a forward hub collar 57; each including a rear section 58 secured, as by welding, to the radial flange 52 of guard ring 50; and each brace further including a turn buckle 59 coupling the sections 56 and 58 thereof for length adjustment. Forward hub collar 57 is secured to shaft 30. The turnbuckles 59 are operable for (a) truing the guard ring 50 so that its radial flange 51 accurately lies in a plane normal to the operational axis, and (b) bodily adjusting the guard ring 50 toward and away from the forward edges of saddle bars 41 and fingers 44.

The guard ring 50 and spokes 53 cooperatively define a back spider the periphery of which is disposed immediately forwardly of the saddle bars 41 and fingers 44, in blocking relation to the gaps 46 in the forward side of the saddle, the spacing between the outer extremities of spokes 53 and the forward edges of saddle bars 41 and fingers 44 being suflicient for free, non-interfering relative rotation of the units B, C, but narrower than the thickness of drive rod 42 so as to prevent any turn of the drive rod entering the spaces between this back spider and the forward extremities of the saddle.

Secured as by welding to the periphery of the guard ring flange 52, (FIG. 5) and extending diagonally across a substantial portion of the axial width thereof, is a guide sleeve 60 through which the emerging portion 42 of drive rod 42 extends for free sliding movement. In the flange 51, substantially aligned with the sleeve 60, is an aperture 61 (FIG. 1a) disposed at the same radius (from the operational axis) as gap 46, the aperture 61 being sufficiently restricted radially to guide the drive rod portion 42' through the gap 46 during projection and retraction of the guide rod. As indicated in FIG. 11, the direction of passage of the guide rod through the flange 51 and into the reel saddle 47 is inclined at a small angle to the plane of the flange 51, and as indicated in FIG. 1a, and in FIG. 9, the radial position of aperture 61 corresponds to the radial positions of gaps 46 so as to guide the rod section 42' through the gap, positioning it away from the paths of rotation of the saddle bar tips 43 and the tips of fingers 44.

Feed unit C further includes a series of pairs of guide pulleys 65 mounted in clevises 66 which are secured to the ends of stems 67, 67', 67", 67f, anchored in an projecting radially from the shaft 30, the stems 67, 67' etc., being of successively shorter length from the rear end toward the front end of the feed unit C, and being successively displaced angularly about the shaft through a substantial portion of the circumference (e.g. along an involute spiral path from the bearing sleeve 60 circumferentially and inwardly, the path gradually curving away from a generally circumferential beginning of the path at the bearing sleeve 60 to a direction approximately parallel to the operational axis at the end of the path. There the emerging section 42' of the drive rod enters the shaft 30 through a passage 68 (FIG. 2) in the tubular wall of the shaft 30, and is curved into alignment with the operational axis within shaft 30 as shown in FIG. 2. A guide shoe 69 in the form of a plug secured within shaft 30 and having a wedge shaped end defining a ramp surface 70 substantially aligned with the rear side of aperture 68, may be utilized to guide the drive rod portion 42' into its axial path within shaft 30. From this part, the drive rod passes forwardly through the open end of shaft 30 and projects therefrom at 42" for entry into a sewer, culvert or the like. Secured to the forward end of projecting portion 42" may be any sewer cleaning tool such as that'illustrated at 71 in FIG. 2.

Drive rod 42 is of a fairly hard, elastic material such as spring steel, sufficiently spring-like and elastic to yield to the curvatures imposed thereon as it is woundin the reel saddle 47, deflected forwardly through the aperture 61, curved in the involute path between the series of guide rollers 65, and curved into alignment with the operational axis as it passes into shaft 3ft through aperture 68. Its rigidity is such that it will normally assume a straight condition where it is not subjected to flexing strains, and will maintain sufficient rigidity so that it can be fed forwardly under end pressure imparted to it by the reel feed apparatus, for travel in a sewer to the extent of a city block or more, without developing kinks or permanent bends therein.

Drive motor D.--Drive motor D may be any conventional motor of suitable horsepower. For example, it may be a small gasoline engine. From its drive take off shaft and a heavy duty clutch 74, engine D drives selectively through a pair of belt drives 75 and 76 (see FIG. 2a as well as FIGS. 1, 6 and 7) to (a) a shaft 77 constituting the input shaft of variable speed transmission F, or (b) the input shaft 78 of reversible transmission E. Motor D and clutch 74 are shown in phantom in FIG. 1 to reveal the transmission E and associated parts.

Reversible transmission mechanism E comprises a conventional reversible gear shift transmission 79 which may be a standard automobile transmission 3 speeds forward, one reverse, and a neutral or non driving'position) controlled by a shift lever and having an output shaft 80 in constant driving relation to intermediate shaft 77 through a chain drive 81. Transmission mechanism E is made operative by establishing drive from motor D through belt drive 76 while disconnecting the drive through belt drive 75. For this purpose there is provided a conventional double belt tightener unit 82 having respective tightener rollers operable to selectively tighten the belts of drive units 75, 76, releasing one of the drives while tightening the other.

From the shaft 77, when being driven, drive is always transmitted to the reel B through a chain drive 83 regardless of whether shaft 77 is being driven directly from motor D through belt drive 75 or through the longer circuit including belt drive 76 and the reversible transmission mechanism E. When drive is being transmitted through the transmission E, the transmission F is placed in a neutral position where it will not transmit drive. When drive is being transmitted through belt drive 75, withthe transmission F shifted to an operative position, the drive will proceed from one end of shaft 77 to the reel B through chain drive 83 and from the other end of shaft 77 through the transmission F to the feed unit C as will now be described in detail.

Feed unit drive transmission F.The variable drive mechanism F in cludes a change speed transmission 84 having a selection of a fairly large number of gear ratios, having the shaft 77 as its input shaft, having an output shaft 85 in spaced parallel relation to the shaft 77, and driving from the output shaft 85 to the shaft 30 of the feed unit C through a chain drive 86. The transmission unit 84 also includes a series of drive sprockets 87' rotatably mounted upon the shaft 77 (which is tubular as shown in FIG. 2b) and aseries of ball clutches comprising balls 88 mounted in annular race ways 89 in the respective sprocket hubs, arranged in pairs on respective sidesof a pair of driving teeth '91 integral with and project- 6 ing radially inwardly from diametrically opposite portions of the sprocket hub 90, and a pairof-controlor clutching balls 92 disposed in respective radial bores 93 inthe shaft 77 in the plane of the balls 88 and adapted tobe forced outwardly between adjacent pairs of balls 88 by axial movement of an actuator head 94 on an actuator stem 95 which extends to the exterior of the housing of transmission 84 and is provided with a suitable actuator mechanism 96 for sliding the same axially in theshaft 77. The actuator handle means 96 may as shown in FIG. 1 be of a pinion and rack type as shown, or any suitable equivalent mechanism. When the head 94 is disposed between a pair of balls 92, the latter will be projected radially outwardly into positive engagement between spaced adjacent balls 88, thereby establishing a positive drive connection between the shaft 77 and the teeth 91 of a respective sprocket 87. All sprockets not thus clutched to the shaft 77 will be in free rotatable relation thereto, the balls 88 travelling circumferentially around the shaft and over and across the bores 93 without establishing any driving relationship. Sprockets 97 are secured on output shaft in alignment with respective sprockets 87. In the array of sprockets 87, the diameters decrease slightly in one direction along the common axis thereof and in the array of sprockets 97 the diameters decrease slightly in the opposite direction along the common axis of those sprockets. Thus, as the actuator stem is drawn successively in one direction from a point where its head 94 establishes drive through one of the end sprockets, to the drive position for the sprockets at the opposite end, there will be a constant slight stepup or stepdown as the case may be, in the ratio of drive through the unit F. The change in ratio is relatively slight between each succeeding pair of drive positions, to provide a suitable range of drive ratios for normal cleaning operations wherein the tool driving rod 42 is slowly fed forwardly while being rotated; The speed of rotation is governed by the selection of gear ratio in the transmission F. The speed of forward feed is determined by the differential between the speed of rotation of reel B (governed by the speed ratio provided in belt drive unit 76 when the latter is operating) and the speed of rotation of feed unit C (which will vary in accordance with the selection of a ratio in transmission F);

Some of the low speed ratios of the transmission unit F are such as to transmit drive to the feed unit C at rates slower than the rate of rotation of reel unit B, whereby the unit B will rotate ahead of the feed unit C (in the anticlockwise direction of FIG. 9) resulting in the drive rod being retracted while it is being rotated in the direction 105 by the feed unit. Preferably, there are three forward feed ratios and three rearward feed (retracting) ratios in transmission F.

A 1:1 (synchronized) drive of reel B and feed unit C is attained by shifting transmission F into a neutral, nondriving position (e.g-. b etween the two sprockets 87 at the center of the cluster of sprockets on shaft 77) and driving only the reel B, which will transmit drive through the drive rod 42 to the feed unit C at the 1:1 ratio. This effect apparent results from the fact that the resistance of the drive rod to being projected or retracted is greater than the torque required to be transmitted through the drive rod for effecting its rotation.

In the ensuing description, when reference is made to the directions of rotation of reel B and feed unit C, such directions are specified as clockwise and counterclockwise respectively, as seen when looking rearwardly from the tool end, as in FIG. 9.

A positive brake device indicated schematically at 98 in FIG. 2a is utilized for holding the feed unit C against rotation while the reel B is rotated counterclockwise (to retract the drive rod'42) or clockwise (to feed the drive rod forwardly). The brake unit 98 may comprise simply a locking bolt or dog 98 (FIG. 2) slidably mounted in a guide sleeve or the like 99 on the top' of A-frarne 21;

7 Such feeds are rapid feeds, utilized when the drive rod is being moved into or out of a sewer with little or no resistance to such movement.

For arresting rotation of reel B (in the event an obstruction is encountered in a sewer being cleaned, or upon a shut down) there is preferably provided a friction brake unit comprising a brake band 100 engageable with the cylindrical skirt 38 of reel unit B, functioning as a brake drum, one end of the brake band 1% being secured by an anchor pin 101 (FIG. 1) carried by a suitable bracket on the top of A frame 21, and the other end of brake band 100 being operable by an eccentric 102 on the end of a crank shaft 103 having a crank lever 104 for rotating the same in suitable bearings in A-frames 21 and 21, whereby the eccentric 102 will tighten the band 160. Since the feed reel C, whenever it is rotating, is geared to the reel B, this braking action will likewise arrest rotation of the unit C.

Operation In the normal operation of the apparatus, drive from motor unit D is utilized to rotate both the reel B and the feed unit C in a common direction which is indicated by the arrow 91 in FIG. 1. As viewed from the forward end of the apparatus looking rearwardly (as in FIG. 9) the direction of rotation is counterclockwise as indicated by arrow 105 in FIG. 9. This direction is opposite to the direction (arrow 106) of inward spiralling movement of the emerging portion 42' of the drive rod in its path from the reel saddle to the point where it enters shaft 39.

The direction of rotation of the drive rod for driving the tool, hereinafter referred to as working rotation, appears to be counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 9, looking rearwardly and is clockwise or right-handed as seen by the operator looking from the rear toward the front end of the machine where the drive rod emerges.

When it is desired to simultaneously rotate and feed the projecting portion 4 of the drive rod forwardly into a sewer, or the like, the machine is operated to rotate the feed unit C ahead of (faster than) the reel unit B in the direction 105. Thus the reel unit B will lag behind unit C with a net relative movement in the direction 107, feeding the drive rod in that direction through unit C as indicated at 106. For normal cleaning operations this is accomplished by shifting the belt tightener S2 to the position establishing drive through belts 75, and shifting the variable speed transmission unit F into a selected driving position. In several driving positions, the unit F will transmit drive to the feed unit C at a rate faster than drive is transmitted to the reel B, the differential between rates being determined by the drive position selected in the unit F.

As the result, the reel unit B will have a slow net recessional rotation with reference to feed unit C, in a clockwise direction as indicated by arrow 107 in FIG. 9, which will be transmitted to emerging section 42' of the drive rod as a forward feeding movement whereby the drive rod will be projected forwardly from the apparatus at 42". This forward feeding movement is indicated by the arrow 94 in FIG. 1. Thus the tool 71 will be advanced into the sewer and simultaneously rotated in the working direction 105 for cleaning the sewer.

During such recessional movement of the reel unit with respect to the feed unit, as indicated by arrow 167, the movement imparted to the drive rod from the reel saddie will cause the outer turn thereof (immediately preceding the emerging portion '42) to be forced radially outwardly against the periphery rods 33 of the reel saddle, thus freeing this last turn of the drive rod from the turns of the drive rod that are wound upon the saddle bars 41 and thereby avoiding any tangling of the outer turns of the drive rod. This is a major advantage of the apparatus.

T he outer coil of the drive rod as thus expanded against the periphery of the reel saddle is indicated at 42a in FIG. 1a. As it approaches the point where it emerges through the aperture 61 in the guard ring 50 of the feed unit, it will engage the camming margins 45 of fingers 44 and will thereby be guided radially inwardly toward the aperture 61. This portion of the coil at 42a in PEG. la is shown in phantom to indicate that it is a portion of the coil located at a position circumferentially removed from the cross sectional plane of FIGv 1a at aperture 61.

At this point it may be noted that speed of rotation of the drive rod is directly determined by speed of rotation of the feed unit C, which in turn is varied in accordance with the selection of a drive ratio in transmission unit F. Also, since the reel unit 3 is driven at a constant rate so long as the drive is transmitted through belt '75, the differential between the rotational rates of units B and C (i.e., the rate of recessional movement of reel unit B with respect to feed unit C) varies directly with the speed of rotation of feed unit C. Thus, the rate of forward feed will be increased and decreased directly in step with the rate of rotation of the drive rod, thus attaining maximum etficiency of cleaning operation under varying conditions of stoppage within a sewer.

When transmission F is shifted to a neutral position, reel B will drive the feed unit C at the same rate of rotation as the reel B. With the reel and feed units being driven at the same speed, the drive rod 42 will be rotated without longitudinal feeding movement.

When it is desired to project or retract the drive rod 42 without rotating it, the belt tightener unit 82 is shifted to release the drive and establish drive through belt 76 to gear shift unit E. Transmission unit F is shifted to a neutral position to break the drive from shaft '77 to feed unit shaft 3@. Brake unit 98 is actuated to lock the shaft 30 and the feed unit C against rotation. Gear shift unit B may then be actuated to drive the reel unit B in the clockwise direction m7 of FIG. 9. This is opposite to the direction of working rotation of the drive rod but, since it effects the projection of the drive rod in the forward feed direction, it may be regarded as the forward feed direction of the reel unit in this operation, and the gear shift unit E is arranged so that its several forward feeds may be utilized for projecting the drive rod at various selected forward speeds. When it is desired to retract the drive rod without rotating it, the gear shift unit E is shifted into reverse position, effecting rotation of the reel unit in the anti-clockwise direction of FIG. 9, thus reeling in the drive rod 42 in the saddle portion of the reel and correspondingly withdrawing it through shaft 30 and guide sleeve 60 into the reel saddle.

Retraction of the drive rod combined with working rotation thereof is attained, at selected speeds, by shifting transmission F into a selected one of its lower (reversing) ratios in which feed unit C is driven more slowly than reel unit B, the latter thus rotating ahead of unit C in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 9, and consequently operating to retract and reel the driving rod into its saddle.

During such reeling of the drive rod into the saddle, the emerging portion 42' and the last preceding turn of the drive rod will be placed under tension and accordingly the drive rod will be drawn snugly inwardly against the previous coils of the rod in the reel saddle, as rapidly as it is drawn through the gaps 46. Also, the inward, rearward inclination of the saddle bars 41, cooperating with the inwardly retracting portion of the drive rod under tension, will cause the latter to slide rearwardly and inwardly down the inclines provided by the outer margins of the saddle bars 41 so as to be coiled in the rear portion of the reel space 47 as indicated in FIG. 5.

To sum up the foregoing, it will be apparent that the apparatus can be operated with a continuous rotation of the tool 71 in a sewer and with selective projecting feed or retracting feed or stopping of the tool for rotation in a fixed position, without at any point interrupting the rotation of the tool. One of the advantages of the apparatus is the fact that it is advantageous to maintain the same direction of rotation of the tool during both advancing. and retracting movements. The reversing unit E provides for selective operation.

Iiclaim:

1. In. a sewer tool: drive rod feeding and rotating apparatus: a frame; a reel unit and a feed unit mounted in said frame for independent rotation on a common axis; said reel unit including a reel saddle on which coils of said drive rod may be wound; saidt feed unit including a back portion disposed forwardly of and adjacent to said, reel saddle and including means for guiding said drive. rod from the periphery of said reel saddle past the periphery of said back portion, thence inwardly to a point adjacent the common: axis of rotation of said reel and feed units, and thence axially forwardly from; the forward ends; of" said reel and feed units; and means for independently driving said reel unit and feed unit differentially in a common rotational direction, whereby to project said drive rod while. rotating it in a single direction ofrotation.

2': In a sewer tool drive rod feeding and rotating apparatus: aframe; a reel unit and a feed unit mounted in said frame for independent rotation on a, common axis; said reel unit including a reel saddle on which coils of said drive rod may be wound; said feed unit including a back portio disposed forwardly of and adjacent to said reel saddle and including means for guiding said drive rod from the periphery of said reel saddle past the periphery of said back portion, thence inwardly to a pointadjacentthe common axis of, rotation of said'reel and feed units, and thence axially forwardly from the forwardendsof said reel and feed units; and means for independently driving said reel unit and feet unit diiferentially ina commonrotational direction and for varying the rotational speed of one of said units with respect to the other, whereby to selectively project said drive rod at different feed rates while rotating it in a single direction ofrotation.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2; wherein the means for -driving the feedtunit includes clutch means which canbe declutched to permit the driving of the reel unit without-driving the feed unit; and further including means to hold the feed unit stationary while the reel-unit is driven to move the drive rod-longitudinally without rotatingit 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, including means for, transmitting reverse drive to the reel unit while the feed unit is declutchedand held stationary, whereby to retract the drive rod without rotating it.

5. In; asewer tool drive rod feeding and rotating ap paratus: a frame; a reel unit and a feed unit mounted in said frame for independent rotation on a common axis; said reel unit including a reel saddle on which coils of said drive rod may be wound; said feed unit including a back portion disposed forwardly of and adjacent to said r elsaddle and including, means for guidingsaid drive,

rodfromthe periphery of said reel saddle past the peripheryof said back portion, thence inwardly to a point adja-. cent the common axis of rotation to said reel and feed units, and thence axially forwardly from the forward ends of said reel and feed units; and means for independently drivingsaid reel unit and feed unit differentially in;

a common rotational direction and for varying the rotational speed of one of said units with respect to the other from a speed of said one unit faster than said other unit to a speed of said one unit slower than said other unit,

whereby to selectively project or retract said drive rod.

6.; In atsewer tool drive rod feeding and rotating apparat-us; a supporting frame; a-tubular shaft mounted therein for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis and having anopen foi wardendg a feed unit secured. on said shaft; a reel unitmounted on said shaft for rotation independently of said feed nnit;..said reel unitrincluding a reel saddle on which coils of said drive rod may be wound; said feed unit including a back portion disposed, for- Wardly of and adjacent to" said reel saddle and including means for guiding said drive rod from the periphery of said reels saddle past the periphery ofsaid back portion, thence inwardly to said, shaft at a point near the forward endof said feedt unit, said shaft having at said point an aperture through which the drive rod enters the shaft, passes forwardly therethrough, and projects from the forward end thereof to carry a sewer cleaning tool; and means for independently driving said reel unit and feed unit in a common rotational direction and for varying the rota tional speed ofone of said units with respect to the other, whereby to selectively project said drive rod at different feed rates while rotating the rod.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said guiding means comprises a plurality of stems secured to and projecting radially from said tubular shaft in circumferentially andaxially spaced positions, and respective guide eyes carried by the outer ends of said stems and defining an involute spiral path for said guide rod.

8. In a sewer tool drive rod feeding and rotating apparatus: a frame; a tubular shaft rotatably mounted in said frame and having an open forward end; a reel unit including a reel saddle on which coils of said drive rod may be wound, mounted on said shaft for rotation there on; a; feed, unit mounted on and fixed tosaid shaft to receive rotation therefrom; said feed unit including a back portion disposed forwardly of and adjacent to said reelfsaddle and including means for guiding said drive rod from the periphery of said reel-saddle past the periphery of said back portion and thence inwardly and forwardly to a point adjacent to saidshaft at a point near the forwardtend of said feedunit, said shaft having at said point an aperture through which the drive rod enters the shaft, passes forwardly therethrough, and projects from the forward end thereof to carry a sewer cleaning tool; means for rotating said reel unit upon said shaft; and means for driving saidshaft so as to drive said feed unit independently of but in a common rotational direction with said reel unit and for varying the rotational speedof said feed unit with respect to said reel unit, whereby to selectively project said drive rod at different reed rates while rotating therod. I

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said reel driving means is coupled directly to said reel unit and whereinssaid feed unit drive means includes amultiple ratio change-speedtransmission driving said shaft; said apparatus furtherrincluding acornmon source of power driving both said transmission and saidv reel driving means 10. In a sewer. tool drive rod feeding and rotatingapparatus: a supporting frame a tubular shaft mounted therein for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis; a feed unit mounted on andsecured to said shaft; a reel unit mountedon said shaft for rotation independently of said ufeed unit; said reel and feed units being of generally conical form, said reel unit having a rear portion-.ofmaximum diameter constituting a reel saddle in which said driverod may be coiled and having aforward end tportionyof minimum diameter provided with a drive receiving element, said feed unit-being disposed within said reel unit and provided with means for guiding the drive rod from the reel saddle in a feed path extendinginwardly and forwardly to said shaft at a point adjacent to and rearwardly of thevforwardend ofasm'd feed unit, said shaft having at said point an aperture through-Which the drive rod enters the shaft andpasses forwardlytherethrough and :projects from thetforward end/thereof to carry a sewer cleaning tool; a motor; means providing a drive from said motor to said drive receiving part on the forward end ofsaid. reelfor rotating the reel; and means for transmitting drive from said motor to said shaft forwardly ofsaid reel and drive units for driving said feediunit differentially with reference to said reeliuni't ina common direction .of rotation, for moving said ,drive rod longitudinally Whilerotating it 11; Apparatus as defined .in claim :10, whereinsaid drive rod guiding means comprises a plurality of stems of successively shorter length secured to and projecting generally radially from said shaft in positions successively spaced forwardly from said reel saddle, and pairs of opposed guide rollers carried by the respective stems at their outer ends, between which said drive rod is guided.

12. In a sewer tool drive rod feeding and rotating apparatus: a supporting frame; a tubular shaft mounted therein for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis; a feed unit mounted on and secured to said shaft; a reel unit mounted on said shaft for rotation independently of said feed unit; said reel and feed units being of generally conical form, and said reel unit having a rear portion of maximum diameter constituting a reel saddle in which said drive rod may be coiled and having a forward end portion of minimum diameter provided with a drive receiving element, said feed unit being disposed within said reel unit, having a back portion including, at the periphery thereof, a guard ring disposed immediately forwardly of said saddle and provided with means for guiding the drive rod therethrough from the reel saddle and thence in a feed path spiralling inwardly and forwardly from the guard ring to said shaft at a point just rearwardly of the forward end of said feed unit, said shaft having at said point an aperture through which the guide rod enters the shaft and passes forwardly therethrough and projects from the forward end thereof to carry a sewer cleaning tool; a motor; drive means providing a drive from said motor to said drive receiving part on the forward end of said reel for rotating the reel; and drive means for transmitting drive from said motor to said shaft forwardly of said reel and drive units, differentially with reference to said reel unit in a common direction of rotation for projecting said drive rod while rotating it.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said guard ring includes a radial flange element having a guide aperture through which said drive rod passes from the reel saddle into said path.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said guard ring is of L-section, including a cylindrical flange extending forwardly from the inward margin of said radial flange element, said apparatus further including a guide sleeve secured to the outer face of said cylindrical flange, substantially aligned with said aperture, and extending diagonally circumferentially and axially therefrom to guide the drive rod into said feed path.

15. In a sewer tool drive rod feeding and rotating apparatus: a frame; a tubular shaft rotatably mounted in said frame and having an open forward end; a reel unit including a reel saddle on which coils of said drive rod may be wound, mounted on said shaft for rotation thereon; a feed unit mounted on and fixed to said shaft to receive rotation therefrom, said reel unit having a rear portion constituting a reel saddle in which said drive rod may be coiled and having a forward end portion of minimum diameter provided with a drive receiving element, said feed unit being disposed within said reel unit, having a back portion including, at the periphery thereof, a guard ring disposed immediately forwardly of said reel saddle and provided with means for guiding the drive rod from the reel saddle and in a feed path spiralling conically inwai'dly and forwardly from the guard ring to said shaft at a point near the forward end of said feed unit, said shaft having at said point an aperture through which the drive rod enters the shaft, passes forwardly therethrough, and projects from the forward end thereof to carry a sewer cleaning tool; a motor; an intermediate shaft; means providing independent alternately selective drives from said motor to said intermediate shaft; a reversible transmission in one of said drives; means driving from said intermediate shaft to said drive receiving part on the forward end of said reel for rotating the reel; means including a speed ratio varying transmission for driving from said intermediate shaft to said feed unit differentially with respect to said reel unit in a common direction of rotation, for projecting said drive rod while rotating it; and means for holding said feed unit stationary while rotating said reel unit through said reversible transmission, for selectively projecting or retracting said drive rod without rotating it.

16. In a sewer tool drive rod feeding and rotating apparatus: a frame; a reel unit and a feed unit mounted in said frame for rotation on a common axis; said reel unit including a back spider comprising a hub and a plurality of spokes radiating therefrom, a reel saddle comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced saddle bars secured to respective spokes and projecting forwardly therefrom, on which coils of said drive rod may be wound, said reel saddle further including a plurality of periphery bars projecting forwardly from the outer ends of said spokes and spaced radially outwardly from said saddle bars, said reel saddle having a plurality of open passes between the forward ends of said saddle bars and said periphery bars for emergence of the drive rod from the reel, said feed unit including a back portion disposed forwardly of and adjacent to said reel saddle, including means for guiding said drive rod from said reel saddle past the periphery of said back portion, thence inwardly and forwardly to a position adjacent the common axis of rotation of said reel and feed units, and thence axially forwardly from the forward ends of said reel and feed units; and means for differentially rotating said reel unit and feed unit in a common direction, whereby to move said drive rod longitudinally while rotating it.

17. In a sewer tool drive rod feeding and rotating apparatus: a frame; a reel unit and a feed unit mounted in said frame for rotation on a common axis; said reel unit including a back spider having a hub, a reel saddle comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced saddle bars secured at their rear ends to said spider and projecting forwardly therefrom, on which coils of said drive rod may be wound, and said reel saddle including periphery means projecting forwardly from the periphery of said spider and spaced radially outwardly from said saddle bars, said reel saddle having a plurality of open passes between the forward ends of said saddle bars and said periphery means for emergence of the drive rod from the reel; and said feed unit including a back portion disposed forwardly of and adjacent to said reel saddle, including means for guiding said drive rod from said reel saddle past the periphery of said back portion and thence inwardly and forwardly to a position adjacent the common axis of rotation of said reel and feed units, and thence axially forwardly from the forward ends of'said reel and feed units; and means for differentially rotating said reel unit and feed unit in a common rotational direction, whereby to feed said drive rod while rotating it.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said saddle bars are secured to said spider at their rear ends and are inclined forwardly and outwardly to their forwards ends which are free so as to cooperate in providing said passes, whereby said drive rod, when being reeled in, will slide rearwardly and inwardly on said saddle bars in response to tension developed in said rod by the reeling action, whereby to initially coil said rod in the rear area of the saddle.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said reel saddle includes camming fingers secured to and projecting radially inwardly from said periphery means and having respective inwardly and forwardly inclined rear margins for guiding an outer turn of the drive rod inwardly from the periphery of the reel saddle through said passes and into said feed unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,267,493 Clotz Dec. 23, 1941 2,926,372 OBrien Mar. 1, 1960 2,955,307 Hunt Oct. 11, 1960 

1. IN A SEWER TOOL DRIVE ROD FEEDING AND ROTATING APPARATUS: A FRAME; A REEL UNIT AND A FEED UNIT MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME FOR INDEPENDENT ROTATION ON A COMMON AXIS; SAID REEL UNIT INCLUDING A REEL SADDLE ON WHICH COILS OF SAID DRIVE ROD MAY BE WOUND; SAID FEED UNIT INCLUDING A BACK PORTION DISPOSED FORWARDLY OF AND ADJACENT TO SAID REEL SADDLE AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR GUIDING SAID DRIVE ROD FROM THE PERIPHERY OF SAID REEL SADDLE PAST THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BACK PORTION, THENCE INWARDLY TO A POINT ADJACENT THE COMMON AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID REEL AND FEED UNITS, AND THENCE AXIALLY FORWARDLY FROM THE FORWARD ENDS OF SAID REEL AND FEED UNITS; AND MEANS FOR INDEPENDENTLY DRIVING SAID REEL UNIT AND FEED UNIT DIFFERENTIALLY IN A COMMON ROTATIONAL DIRECTION, WHEREBY TO PROJECT SAID DRIVE ROD WHILE ROTATING IT IN A SINGLE DIRECTION OF ROTATION. 